A Few EOS 7D Mark II Specs [CR1]

[Marauder]

Personally, I'm kind of excited for it the step up to a pro body...although I am finding all of the "Waaaaaa, it won't look like my pre existing APS-C body!" comments highly amusing! Particularly the ones that say it will be a deal breaker, no matter how good it is, if it doesn't have the body format they expect and want. 8)

I think Canon wants to differentiate this from the existing APS-C bodies in a variety of ways, given that it is going to be more expensive in than any other APS-C body ever. I suspect it will be a different kind of animal than we've ever seen from any APS-C camera, in terms of AF, Speed and buffer (although I suspect it will only be a moderate improvement in IQ over the 70D, but time will tell). I think Canon is seeing if they can redefine what an APS-C camera CAN be--and I'm very excited to see how that pans out!

That's my thoughts anyway.

This might surprise you, but things like camerasize and ergonomics are part of what makes a camera good, for a lot of people. Image quality and fancy features are just part of the experience.

And it might surprise you, but this camera is aimed at action oriented shooters, most of whom are going to use big telephoto lenses on it anyway, much as they do with the 1D series. My own 7D spends most of it's time with the 100-400 lens on it. And, although it's not as huge as the really big super telephotos, it still dwarfs the 7D. And it would dwarf a 1D series body too. Add in one of the REALLY big lenses, like the 500 or 600 f4, and the body size becomes far less significant, and indeed it may provide better balance when using a long lens than a small body would.

I'm not saying there isn't a place for smaller cameras, and there are lots of choices for those who desire one. The 70D is smaller than the current 7D and would make a great choice for someone who wants a decently performing APS-C camera with a more conventional layout and smaller size. If the 7D II ends up too bulky for you, there ARE options out there for you!

 

[LetTheRightLensIn]

WiFi & GPS will be internal. We all figured this one.

This means it will not be a completely mag-alloy body so that they can put an antenna in the body somewhere to receive RF signals.

If you look at the body of a 1DX you will see that it is more full of holes than a swiss cheese. Lots of places for RF to penetrate inside, but it is even easier to put the antenna on the outside of the metal frame and cover it with rubber or plastic.

Why don't you put a metal box with the same number of holes in it as the 1DX around the antenna of your WiFi box at home and see what that does for your WiFi use.

+1

 

[LetTheRightLensIn]

WiFi & GPS will be internal. We all figured this one.

This means it will not be a completely mag-alloy body so that they can put an antenna in the body somewhere to receive RF signals.

Or it's all-metal and the two antennae are trapped under the pop-up flash. You have to pop the flash (a la a submarine communicating by raising the periscope) to use either. ;D

That would be a riot.

- A

 

[Lightmaster]

rumor says 1 style top plate.. how comes that some think it will have a 1 body with integrated BG?

don´t you think if it had not only a 1 style top plate but also a 1 style body that the rumor source would have mentioned it.... :

 

[LetTheRightLensIn]

Personally, I'm kind of excited for it the step up to a pro body...although I am finding all of the "Waaaaaa, it won't look like my pre existing APS-C body!" comments highly amusing! Particularly the ones that say it will be a deal breaker, no matter how good it is, if it doesn't have the body format they expect and want. 8)

I think Canon wants to differentiate this from the existing APS-C bodies in a variety of ways, given that it is going to be more expensive in than any other APS-C body ever. I suspect it will be a different kind of animal than we've ever seen from any APS-C camera, in terms of AF, Speed and buffer (although I suspect it will only be a moderate improvement in IQ over the 70D, but time will tell). I think Canon is seeing if they can redefine what an APS-C camera CAN be--and I'm very excited to see how that pans out!

That's my thoughts anyway.

It is a deal breaker, because when I am slogging through the bush with a camera strapped to my back, having a massive body is a decided detriment. Big bodies are for studio use primarily, where size doesn't matter. And if you are in a studio you don't need a crop sensor. If you are out and about, where mobility is important, a large camera body is a problem.

+1

plsu you can always add a grip for say when you are shooting sports in a fixed location and doing lots of verticals

 

[pwp]

Can somebody explain to me HOW lack of a mode dial is a good thing? I've never really understood the button system on the 1D line. To me it seems to be a lot slower to switch modes like this.

That's the point. You don't want the mode changing accidentally and more to the point, the mode doesn't change that often - less often than you change lens/camera.

It's not without sound reason and frankly awesome industrial design that mode-dial-free 1-Series bodies get constant accolades for close on perfectly resolved ergonomics.

Like a lot of pros I choose to switch off all other modes leaving just Manual and Av. It's all I use. How often have you tried switching modes on a 5D3 or other mode dial camera in darkness or very low light? It's slow and potentially inaccurate. The 1-Series top display where mode selection happens is illuminated. No problem. If you've never understood the buttons on a 1D system camera, I'd say you've probably never owned one.

If the 7DII has no mode dial and presents as an APS-C pro body, I won't mind a bit. I'll just go straight out and get one.

-pw

 

[Orangutan]

Can somebody explain to me HOW lack of a mode dial is a good thing? I've never really understood the button system on the 1D line. To me it seems to be a lot slower to switch modes like this.

That's the point. You don't want the mode changing accidentally and more to the point, the mode doesn't change that often - less often than you change lens/camera.

It's not without sound reason and frankly awesome industrial design that mode-dial-free 1-Series bodies get constant accolades for close on perfectly resolved ergonomics.

Like a lot of pros I choose to switch off all other modes leaving just Manual and Av. It's all I use. How often have you tried switching modes on a 5D3 or other mode dial camera in darkness or very low light? It's slow and potentially inaccurate. The 1-Series top display where mode selection happens is illuminated. No problem. If you've never understood the buttons on a 1D system camera, I'd say you've probably never owned one.

If the 7DII has no mode dial and presents as an APS-C pro body, I won't mind a bit. I'll just go straight out and get one.

-pw

If they're marketing this for the wealthy amateur then it'll have a mode dial of some kind to avoid the newb frustration factor. If it has no mode dial, then it'll be marketed to working pros, and will have a price to match.

 

[Marauder]

Can somebody explain to me HOW lack of a mode dial is a good thing? I've never really understood the button system on the 1D line. To me it seems to be a lot slower to switch modes like this.

That's the point. You don't want the mode changing accidentally and more to the point, the mode doesn't change that often - less often than you change lens/camera.

It's not without sound reason and frankly awesome industrial design that mode-dial-free 1-Series bodies get constant accolades for close on perfectly resolved ergonomics.

Like a lot of pros I choose to switch off all other modes leaving just Manual and Av. It's all I use. How often have you tried switching modes on a 5D3 or other mode dial camera in darkness or very low light? It's slow and potentially inaccurate. The 1-Series top display where mode selection happens is illuminated. No problem. If you've never understood the buttons on a 1D system camera, I'd say you've probably never owned one.

If the 7DII has no mode dial and presents as an APS-C pro body, I won't mind a bit. I'll just go straight out and get one.

-pw

Well said!

 

[NancyP]

Pros aren't the only ones who just use M or Av, old-timer film-shooter amateurs grew up with manual. I prefer manual for most situations, use Av the rest of the time. I could be perfectly happy with setting up a button to toggle between M Av Tv . How does one select custom settings on non-dial cameras? Toggle would be fine here too.

The main appeal of the 1 series grips for sports / wildlife shooters is the HIGHER VOLTAGE BATTERIES of 1 series versus the good old LPE6 battery. Supertelephoto lenses are said to have faster AF on 1 series than on other Canon cameras. I don't own either a supertelephoto or a 1 series camera, just a 60D and 400mm f/5.6L. That's reasonably fast to AF.

 

[Don Haines]

Pros aren't the only ones who just use M or Av, old-timer film-shooter amateurs grew up with manual. I prefer manual for most situations, use Av the rest of the time. I could be perfectly happy with setting up a button to toggle between M Av Tv . How does one select custom settings on non-dial cameras? Toggle would be fine here too.

The main appeal of the 1 series grips for sports / wildlife shooters is the HIGHER VOLTAGE BATTERIES of 1 series versus the good old LPE6 battery. Supertelephoto lenses are said to have faster AF on 1 series than on other Canon cameras. I don't own either a supertelephoto or a 1 series camera, just a 60D and 400mm f/5.6L. That's reasonably fast to AF.

+1

 

[unfocused]

...But, once cameras became digital, those grips no longer served their original purpose, but still serve as a signature of a "professional". That is why they are there, it is primarily for show and as a status symbol. And caters to the macho idea that for a real man, bigger is better. In a practical modern camera it serves no real function, it is just peacock feathers.

Heck yes. But never underestimate the value of peacock feathers to a peacock.

Actually, I am a sucker for these grips. Mostly I like the extra battery life they provide. They do make shooting in vertical a bit easier, but frankly I'm old school and am used to rotating the camera clockwise, which means all the controls end up on the bottom. Not very useful. It's a muscle-memory thing from film days that is hard to break.

Completely random, but I really wish they wouldn't call that mode "manual." There is nothing manual about it. So many people are smug about using "manual" but it means nothing.

You want manual? Try eyeballing the scene, twirling the aperture ring and the shutter dial and hope there's enough latitude in the Tri-X to capture something. Heck, if you really want manual, get yourself a lens that closes down as you turn the ring.

Manual? You guys don't know from manual.

 

[pj1974]

I am looking forward to see what any 7D mkII has to offer (as I have a 7D and was a relatively early adopter of this great camera).

My main hopes / criteria include:
- It definitely has to remain APS-C / 1.6x crop sensor (I have lenses, both EF-S and EF that I love on APS-C bodies).*
- Better IQ (both at low and high ISO, in terms of lower noise, no banding – and good per pixel sharpness)
- Improved AF (stronger, more consistent auto-focussing – especially in poor light, but I find the 7D does quite a good job if one knows how!)
- Phase Detect DPAF (Dual Pixel Auto Focus) on sensor, like the 70D (or even better)
- Body size / weight / shape – I love it as it is, and yes, I’ve use many other bodies – smaller, larger, Canon & other brands. 7D is just right for me! I’d prefer not to have an integrated grip.
- Keep the pop up flash, it’s definitely convenient to have it there, and not need to always take an external flash
- FPS is fine, but I’d like a 5 frame EV-exposure bracket possibility (not just the 3).
- Intervalometer (not a huge deal breaker, I have the very good Hahnel remote, which can do those features, and has some other useful functionality)
- WiFi & GPS – handy, but want to have the option to switch them on & off easily. Not essential or that important for me.

* APS-H is dead, and didn’t give the best of both worlds, it gave the worst of both worlds – though I can understand for some people it ‘worked’ as a handy compromise.

I don’t mind the mode dial – I really like that it has hard stops (I place ‘sports / quick action’ photography on C3). But I only use these 3 modes Av (85% of the time), M (10%) and Tv (5%). I certainly don’t want the P mode, or ‘Creative Auto’, etc. I would be happy with 5 x Custom modes, either accessible via a mode dial, button/s or a well-implemented touchscreen system.

Having seen what Canon has brought out with the 70D (for a xxD body - a fine camera: good image quality, rich feature list & great value) – I have positive (and hopefully not unrealistic) expectations of a good 7DmkII… it’s certainly been a long time in the coming!

Paul

 

[Menace]

The main appeal of the 1 series grips for sports / wildlife shooters is the HIGHER VOLTAGE BATTERIES of 1 series versus the good old LPE6 battery. Supertelephoto lenses are said to have faster AF on 1 series than on other Canon cameras. I don't own either a supertelephoto or a 1 series camera, just a 60D and 400mm f/5.6L. That's reasonably fast to AF.

The extra voltage does help and so does the balance provided by the built in grip.

I mainly shoot in M mode but when I do use Av on either of my bodies, it takes a brief moment to change whether dial or button.

It's not really a big deal for me - I'm more interested in the IQ, AF speed, buffer, weather sealing and high ISO performance of the 7d2.

 

[jrista]

Can somebody explain to me HOW lack of a mode dial is a good thing? I've never really understood the button system on the 1D line. To me it seems to be a lot slower to switch modes like this.

Dials are difficult to seal. You can't REALLY seal a rotating component...there is always going to be the open joint where the seal meets the shaft of the dial.

Buttons, on the other hand, can be completely sealed. You place the button on the outside of the seal, the electronics that activate on "press" inside the seal, and everything is good.

The 1D X uses buttons to meet it's weather sealing grade...which is quite a bit higher than the current 7D. If weather sealing is important (and if you shoot sports or any other kind of action, it's plenty common to shoot in the rain or other wet weather), then the 7D II moving to a button-only system is actually a rather welcome thing.

 

[tron]

Can somebody explain to me HOW lack of a mode dial is a good thing? I've never really understood the button system on the 1D line. To me it seems to be a lot slower to switch modes like this.

Dials are difficult to seal. You can't REALLY seal a rotating component...there is always going to be the open joint where the seal meets the shaft of the dial.

Buttons, on the other hand, can be completely sealed. You place the button on the outside of the seal, the electronics that activate on "press" inside the seal, and everything is good.

The 1D X uses buttons to meet it's weather sealing grade...which is quite a bit higher than the current 7D. If weather sealing is important (and if you shoot sports or any other kind of action, it's plenty common to shoot in the rain or other wet weather), then the 7D II moving to a button-only system is actually a rather welcome thing.

I agree with you provided they do not put a pop up flash as it was suggested in this thread.
Otherwise it will be the most joke camera ever!

 

[jrista]

Yes.... the touch screen is a game changer... either use it like a 1DX or tap the screen.... as touchscreens mature it will be interesting to see what happens.

Maybe, it depends. Personally, I'm the kind of shooter that doesn't like to take the camera away from my eye if I can avoid it. You can easily miss the best action that way. (I just did recently, testing my new 5D III...snowy egret fluffed up as I was fiddling with something on the camera...when I had my eye AWAY from the VF!! BAH!) I like a camera that has LOTS of buttons that allow me to directly access LOTS of things, combined with a viewfinder that displays enough information to allow me to configure everything about the camera, mode, exposure, AF, metering, etc. all from my near-permanent viewpoint through the viewfinder.

Button layout plays a BIG role here, as does the number of buttons and how configurable each one is. This is one of the areas I think Canon EXCELS at, and one of the few primary reasons I've stuck with the brand. Canon ergonomics are superb.

Touch screens...well, they are very intriguing, and certainly make using P&S style cameras, like say the EOS M, easier and more convenient. But, they really don't do squat to help me configure my camera on the fly without ever removing my eye from the viewfinder. By definition, touch screens require that I remove my eye from the VF and touch the LCD screen on the back. Not only that, I have to take my eye off the subject to use a touch screen. Not very good for action shooters, who have to keep their eyes on the scene/subject at all times and be ready, at all times, to press the shutter button when the action occurs.

Buttons and a good VF HUD are essential for what I do. For the most common things, I barely even have to think...changing exposure, selecting AF points, etc. are largely autonomic, procedural memory and a tiny fraction of my mind take care of them when I need to (most of the time). I have to think a bit more to do other things, say lock autoexposure (if I'm using an auto mode), because I don't do it as often, but I can still do it without taking my eye away from the VF with lots and lots of buttons. I would actually prefer to have buttons rather than a dial for mode selection...the dial is actually difficult to use, even more so these days, like with the 5D III which has the mode dial lock button...it's basically a two-hand requirement to change modes now. (I like that in one sense...now I'm not changing modes accidentally, which occurred far too often with the 7D...but now I can't simply roll my left finger along the dial to change modes...)

Anyway...I think touch screens will have a lofty place among entry level cameras and mirrorless cameras. When it comes to professional grade cameras...I don't really think that touch screens are going to be all that important. They introduce a highly disruptive workflow for changing camera settings, one that is not conducive to action shooting at all (and, since this is the 7D II were talking about...action is basically what it's designed for.)

 

[Lee Jay]

Touch screens are great, for setting the date and time, and turning on and off custom functions and so on. But I too want to be able to adjust ISO, aperture, shutter speed, exposure compensation, flash exposure compensation, IS and AF modes, and focus and exposure lock, all while looking through the viewfinder. It may be important to note that I can already do all of this with my 20D and 5D, and won't willingly give it up.

 

[privatebydesign]

Can somebody explain to me HOW lack of a mode dial is a good thing? I've never really understood the button system on the 1D line. To me it seems to be a lot slower to switch modes like this.

Dials are difficult to seal. You can't REALLY seal a rotating component...there is always going to be the open joint where the seal meets the shaft of the dial.

Buttons, on the other hand, can be completely sealed. You place the button on the outside of the seal, the electronics that activate on "press" inside the seal, and everything is good.

The 1D X uses buttons to meet it's weather sealing grade...which is quite a bit higher than the current 7D. If weather sealing is important (and if you shoot sports or any other kind of action, it's plenty common to shoot in the rain or other wet weather), then the 7D II moving to a button-only system is actually a rather welcome thing.

I agree with you provided they do not put a pop up flash as it was suggested in this thread.
Otherwise it will be the most joke camera ever!

The 1DX has two dials.

Making 100% waterproof seals for buttons or dials to "weatherproof specs", or "splash proof", is very simple, there is no pressure involved so it really is a case of very basic machining and tolerance control, something a company like Canon could do without breaking a sweat, just look at the tolerances they already work to in even their cheapest DSLR's with mirrors, AF modules, shutters and lens mounts, all of these are very fine tolerance items already.

All the true waterproof housings I worked with, and that is hundreds, never had a membrane across a button, they had a shaft and simple rubber seals on that shaft, most were good to 150', many are now rated to 400', again with simple "O" ring seals on a shaft. Some of the surf housing, which are only rated to 20' but are built to take severe punishment, do use fully sealed buttons, but even they have shafts with regular "O" rings for the lever controls like shutter button etc, and they have several dials/rotating knobs.

Sealing a dial on a camera to weather proof is easy, and cheap.

 

[unfocused]

Touch screens are great, for setting the date and time, and turning on and off custom functions and so on. But I too want to be able to adjust ISO, aperture, shutter speed, exposure compensation, flash exposure compensation, IS and AF modes, and focus and exposure lock, all while looking through the viewfinder. It may be important to note that I can already do all of this with my 20D and 5D, and won't willingly give it up.

Why would anyone think you'd be giving up anything. The Quick Control Screen doesn't replace dials and buttons, it simply augments them, giving you another choice. The only difference with a touch screen is you can access everything with a finger touch or swipe.

Clearly, you have to be able to do all this things with another control as well, otherwise, how would you adjust your settings while shooting, while in live view or in the middle of winter with gloves on?

 

[Lee Jay]

I agree with you provided they do not put a pop up flash as it was suggested in this thread.
Otherwise it will be the most joke camera ever!

Why?

The popup flash can be really handy. Not having it is the biggest thing I dislike about my 5D. Sure, I have a handful of 550s and 580s, but I also bought a little Sunpack to replace the missing popup for those (many) times I don't need a big, powerful flash, but instead just want a little pop of fill or even just a catch-light, and would rather carry a fast prime instead of the big flash (they occupy the same pocket in my bag).